I had to write a report on utility companies that use Twitter in their marketing plans. I ended up being pretty interesting. So here is what I found:
MLGW
Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) is the largest three-service municipal utility in the U.S. with more than 420,000 customers. Since 1939, MLGW has provided electricity, natural gas and water service for Memphis and Shelby County residents.
MLGW does use Twitter and updates it often. They use Twitter to talk to their customers about their power outages and other emergencies as well as getting customer feedback on how they can improve their services. They are very active and have almost 2000 followers. It is important to note that MLGW not only posts Twitter updates about power outages and news but also gets involved in conversations with the customers who write about their company and service.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) is one of the largest electric generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives in the United States.
They have a Twitter account and use it very actively. They mostly use Twitter to talk about their company news, career opportunities, and to highlight their service strengths. They also use Twitter to engage in conversations with their customers and mostly empower and acknowledge their input.
Progress Energy
Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida.
Progress Energy uses Twitter. They use Twitter in slightly different direction than other utility companies mentioned above. They do use Twitter to engage with customers and announce their company news. They also use twitter to teach their customers energy saving tips and advices. They also make Twitter updates about energy industry news in general.
Oncor
Oncor is a regulated electric distribution and transmission business. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to approximately 3 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 117,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines in Texas.
Oncor has recently started using Twitter as a marketing tool and has slightly over 600 followers. They mostly use Twitter to empower their customers, talk about their community involvement and awards supported by them, and the new technologies they are using.
First Energy Corporation
FirstEnergy Corp. is a electric company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. It is the seventh electric utility operating companies in United States and serves 4.5 million customers.
First Energy Corp does have a twitter page. They only have 2 followers and have never updated their page (status). It seems like they have realized they need to use Twitter in their marketing and research but have not decided how yet.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power companies in the United States. They supply and deliver energy to approximately 4 million U.S. customers. We have approximately 35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy does have a Twitter page. They tweet restoration updates during weather emergencies and engage in conversations with their customers.
Some other utility companies using Twitter are listed below:
- NES Power (Nashville Electric Service): Twitter Page
- Emergent Energy Group: Twitter Page
- Ameren Corporation: Twitter Page
- Luminant: Twitter Page
